Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My comments will be in the same vein as those of my colleague Mr. Angus.
The security of people participating in those types of trips raises questions and concerns. There is a protocol in place. It makes no sense to get no answer to the question of who invited people to that trip. They must have been invited by the Office of the Prime Minister or the member.
Often, members who have always been invited to those trips are asked whether they want to be accompanied by people from their riding or people they know who would be interested in joining them. In this case, we are talking about a trip to India. Those people did not show up at the airport that morning with their luggage in case there would be a spot for them. They were invited. There is a security protocol, and the RCMP investigates.
What concerns me is that people are denying having been invited. As for the protection of the Prime Minister, I understand the protocol and the fact that the RCMP did their search. However, those individuals said that no one invited them. I cannot imagine that. It's impossible.
Either we are being lied to, or something related to national security is being concealed from us. When it comes to that, I don't think anyone on that airplane was a threat to national security. If so, they should not have been there. They should not have been there either way.
The background of the member for Brampton-East also raises many questions. Having gambling debts is a personal problem, but the way we obtain money may become a public problem. In fact, whether we like it or not, we are accountable to Canadians in terms of showing who we are and especially proving that no money issue may interfere with certain political decisions or votes in the House of Commons, among other things.
We cannot be influenced by money coming from others, be it given or borrowed. We must declare that money and prove that we can pay it back. If our gambling debts amount to several million dollars, with the salary we have as members, it would take more than 150 years to pay them off. They will probably never be paid back.
The member must prove that he managed to accumulate that kind of a debt through his possessions or other economic activities he is involved in, but if there aren't any, he really has a problem in terms of ethics, and that raises questions.
Canadians have a right to know what is happening. In addition, this will help future members. If amendments or recommendations are necessary, it is our duty to make them. We represent Canadians and we have a duty to do so ethically, simply put.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.